Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B11/00—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use
  • B05B11/01—Single-unit hand-held apparatus in which flow of contents is produced by the muscular force of the operator at the moment of use characterised by the means producing the flow
  • B05B11/10—Pump arrangements for transferring the contents from the container to a pump chamber by a sucking effect and forcing the contents out through the dispensing nozzle
  • B05B11/1042—Components or details
  • B05B11/1043—Sealing or attachment arrangements between pump and container
  • B05B11/1049—Attachment arrangements comprising a deformable or resilient ferrule clamped or locked onto the neck of the container by displacing, e.g. sliding, a sleeve surrounding the ferrule

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a fastening system for fixing a dispensing member, such as a pump or a valve, on a neck of a fluid reservoir to form a fluid dispenser, the system comprising a fastening ring having receiving means for receiving the dispensing member and hooking means for engaging around the neck of the reservoir.
• These attachment means generally comprise flexible axial tabs separated by axial slots.
• the system includes a locking sleeve engaged around the ring to lock the tabs engaged around the neck.
• the preferred fields of application of the present invention are those of perfumery, cosmetics or even pharmacy.
• the fixing ring comprises receiving means, such as a housing, for receiving the dispensing member, which may for example comprise a projecting collar intended to be engaged by snapping into the housing of the ring.
• the fixing ring also comprises a fastening skirt of substantially cylindrical shape forming the flexible tabs which define an internal wall possibly provided with one or more attachment profile (s) intended (s) to come engaged with the neck of the tank.
• the neck of the tank forms a projecting annular external reinforcement under which the attachment profile (s) engage in the final assembly position.
• the locking sleeve serves to prevent the disengagement of the internal profiles of the legs of the skirt from below the external protruding protruding collar.
• the locking sleeve maintains the snap profiles of the ring captive of the neck of the tank.
• it is intended to achieve the skirt of the ring with longitudinal axial slots so as to divide the skirt into several tabs separated by slots. It is necessary that the skirt of the ring may deform radially outwardly during the passage of the neck reinforcement.
• the function of the locking sleeve is to prevent this radial deformation towards the outside of the skirt of the ring, once the fastening profiles are engaged below the reinforcement of the neck.
• the final mounting position in which the locking sleeve prevents the ring from disengaging from the neck, is a definitive position, in that it is no longer possible to remove the locking sleeve from the ring for allow removal of the ring from the neck. Therefore, to remove a dispensing assembly using such a fastening system, it is necessary to destroy the sleeve, the ring or the neck. Indeed, the holding of the locking sleeve is considerable so that its tensile strength can not be overcome by pulling axially above without damaging or destroying.
• Disassembling the dispenser i.e. removing the dispensing assembly from the reservoir, may, however, be useful in some circumstances.
• a screw fastening system is generally used.
• the ring fastening system and locking ring is not suitable, since the establishment of the sleeve on the ring is generally final.
• Disassembly can also be useful to be able to recycle the distributor by separating these different constituent materials. This is theoretically possible with the fastening ring system and locking sleeve, but requires the destruction of the ring, the sleeve or collar, which is a random operation and therefore difficult to industrialize.
• the present invention proposes that the locking sleeve forms a plurality of locking sectors intended to engage the tabs to lock them around the neck and several unlocking sectors out of contact with the ring, the sleeve being movable around of the ring between a mounting position in which the locking sectors are engaged with the tabs and the unlocking sectors are located at the slots, and a disassembly position in which the locking sectors are located at the slots and the unlocking sectors are located at the legs to allow them to deform to free themselves from their grip with the collar.
• the locking sleeve is movable in pure rotation without axial component around the fixing ring, which itself remains perfectly static with respect to the neck. It is the relative rotational movement between the sleeve and the ring which will allow to go from the mounting position to the disassembly position, in which the fastening system can again be removed from the neck.
• the present invention provides a particularly clever arrangement that resides in one-piece construction of the ring and the sleeve, the latter being connected together by bridges of breakable material.
• indexation relative two parts is automatically performed by their one-piece molding, and we no longer have to worry about the angular position of the sleeve relative to the ring.
• the ring comprises a crenellated skirt thus forming the tabs and the slots, a plate intended to bear on the neck, with a seal possibly interposed, and a receiving housing, advantageously by snapping, for the distribution organ.
• the sleeve can be initially connected by lower internal edges of the locking sectors to the upper outer edge of the skirt of the ring integrally, axially above each leg.
• the locking sectors penetrate at least partially into the slots in disassembly position, thus preventing the return to the mounting position.
• the locking sectors will fulfill an additional function of locking in disassembly position, in that the insertion of the locking sectors in the corresponding slots prevents any subsequent free rotation of the sleeve on the ring.
• the locking sectors then perform a function of latch or latch being received, without possible return, inside the slots.
• the neck forms rotational locking means to prevent free rotation of the ring on the neck.
• These locking means may be in various forms, and more particularly in the form of protruding or recessed profiles at any point of the neck likely to interfere with the ring. It is not necessary that the ring is perfectly static in rotation on the neck: it is only necessary that the rotation of the ring on the neck is not free, but on the contrary limited by an abutment.
• the sleeve, and more particularly the locking sectors only come into contact with the ring at the level of the tabs. In this way, the friction and clamping forces between the sleeve and the ring are concentrated at the tabs.
• the unlocking sectors are wider than the legs. This facilitates the positioning of the tabs at the unlocking sectors.
• a clearance space is preferably present between a tab and its unlocking sector in disassembly position.
• the locking sectors are formed by studs which protrude inwardly from the sleeve of a substantially cylindrical inner wall.
• the unlocking sectors are formed by a portion of the sleeve connecting the locking sectors to each other, so that the sleeve is continuous over its entire periphery.
• the unlocking sectors are thus constituted by material, and more particularly a wall, but it is not in contact with the ring so as to create the clearance space.
• the sleeve has a cylindrical outer wall which is interrupted at the locking sectors which form recesses.
• the fastening system may further comprise a trim band, preferably metal, engaged around the sleeve to hide it.
• a trim band preferably metal
• This hoop can even fulfill a locking function, in particular when the sleeve is not continuous over its entire periphery (unlocking sectors formed by indentations or slots).
• the principle of the invention lies in the fact of removing the locking of the tabs by a pure rotational movement of the locking sleeve. This principle can all the more easily be implemented that it does not require indexing between the sleeve and the ring and that locking in disassembled position is assured without complicating the configuration of the system.
• FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a fluid dispenser using a fastening system according to the invention in position before assembly
• FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the fastening system of the invention before assembly
• FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 with part of the fastening system cut out to reveal the interior
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1 with the pre-mounted fastening system on the tank neck;
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4 with the fastening system in the final mounting position with a part cut out to reveal the inside,
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged cut-out view with the pusher removed in the disassembly position after rotation of the sleeve 2 around the ring 1, and
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the dispenser in the disassembled state.
• the fastening system of the invention comprises a fastening ring
• the fastening system is associated with a dispensing member 3, which may be a pump or a valve.
• the fastening system and the dispensing member constitute a dispensing assembly, which may optionally be completed by a trim band 5.
• This dispensing assembly is intended to be mounted in a fixed and tight manner on a neck 4 of a reservoir. of fluid, thus constituting a fluid dispenser, such as can be meet in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or pharmacy. It is a dispenser whose actuation of the dispenser is done manually using one or more finger (s).
• the dispensing member 3 comprises a body 31 provided at its lower end with a fluid inlet 32 which may optionally be provided with a dip tube (not shown). At its upper end, the body 31 forms a collar (not shown) which protrudes radially outwards and which is generally used for fixing the dispensing member 3 in the fastening system of the invention, as it is will see below.
• the dispensing member 3 also comprises an actuating rod (not shown) on which is mounted a pusher 33, advantageously forming a dispensing orifice 34.
• the pusher 33 is axially displaceable back and forth against a return spring (not shown). At each actuation, the fluid product, in metered form or not, is dispensed through the orifice 34. This is a quite conventional design for a pump or a valve in the aforementioned fields of application.
• the neck 4 of the reservoir (not shown) comprises an annular shoulder 41 which may be considered as already integral part of the tank body. From this shoulder 41, the neck forms a first narrowed section 42 which is surmounted by an annular reinforcement 43 which protrudes outwardly. The upper end of the neck is formed by an annular edge 45 which defines the opening 40 of the reservoir.
• the neck 4 is provided with rotational locking means 44, which are here formed at the annular reinforcement 43. However, it is also possible to form these locking means at another location of the neck 4, as for example at section 42, the shoulder 41 or the annular edge 45.
• the function of these rotational locking means 44 is to lock the fixing ring 1 in rotation on the neck 4 so that it does not rotate freely.
• the rotational locking means 44 in FIG. 1 are in the form of notches or recesses having, for example, a projecting edge on which the fixing ring abuts and prevents it from turning freely.
• the projecting ridges make it possible to block rotation in both directions. However, blocking only in one direction is also possible.
• the locking means are preferably in the form of a raised or recessed configuration, but it is also possible to envisage locking means in the form of materials making it possible to increase the frictional forces between the fixing ring 1 and the neck 4.
• the fixing ring 1 comprises, quite conventionally, receiving means 11 which are designed to receive the dispensing member 3 in a fixed and sealed manner, for example by snapping its protruding flange into a specially adapted housing which is formed by receiving means 11. Other reception techniques can of course be used to receive in a fixed and sealed manner the dispensing member 3 in the fixing ring 1.
• the fixing ring forms an opening 13 which is intended for the passage of the actuating rod of the dispensing member 3.
• the receiving means form an annular plate 14 which is intended to come into abutment, with a neck seal possibly interposed, on the annular upper edge 45 of the neck 4.
• the annular plate 14 therefore has mainly a sealing function between the fixing ring 1 and the neck 4 of the tank.
• the plate 14 is extended on its outer periphery by a cylindrical skirt 15 which extends downwards.
• the skirt 15 is crenellated so as to define a plurality of axial tabs 16 separated by axial slots 18. This is clearly visible in FIG. 2.
• the skirt 15 here forms five legs. flexible axial 16 and five axial slots 18 which are evenly distributed around the perimeter of the skirt 15.
• a function of the slots 18 is to give some flexibility to the axial tabs 16. In this way, they are slightly deformable, particularly in the direction radial outward to allow mounting of the fixing ring 1 on the neck 4, as will be seen below.
• the inner wall of the tabs 16 is formed with one or more attachment profile (s) 17 intended (s) to be housed under the annular reinforcement 43 at the narrowed section 42.
• the slots 18 are wider than the tabs 16.
• the slots 18 are open downwards and extend upwards to the vicinity of the plate 14. In a variant that is not shown, it is possible to extend the skirt. 16 upwards beyond the plate 14 to form a guide wall. This is a global design quite conventional for a fixing ring in the fields of perfumery, cosmetics or pharmacy.
• the locking sleeve 2 has a generally cylindrical general configuration.
• the sleeve defines an inner wall 2i and an outer wall 2e which are both substantially cylindrical: "their cylindricity" being interrupted only at the level of several locking sectors 26 which protrude inwards with respect to the inner wall 2i.
• the external wall 2e is also hollowed out at the level of the locking sectors 26, but it is also conceivable to make the external wall 2e perfectly cylindrical, that is to say by filling the recesses formed at the locking sectors 26.
• These locking sectors 26 are here five in number and are evenly distributed around the periphery of the sleeve 2, corresponding to the lugs 16 of the skirt 15.
• the locking sectors 26 are separated by unlocking sectors 28 which form part of the sleeve and internal walls 2i and external 2e. In other words, the unlocking sectors 28 form an integral part of the greater cylindrical part of the sleeve 2. It can thus be considered that the locking sleeve 2 is a perfect part.
• the wall thickness at the locking sectors 26 may be identical to that of the unlocking sectors 28. As a variant, when the external wall 2e is perfectly cylindrical, the wall thickness of the locking sectors is greater than that of the sectors. Unlocking 28. It can be noted that the sleeve 2 is continuous over its entire periphery at the locking sectors 26 and unlocking 28. In a variant, it is also possible to form the unlocking sectors 28 in the form of windows or windows. It is possible to indent or partially indent the unlocking sectors 28.
• the purpose of the locking sectors 26 is to define an internal diameter which is smaller than the diameter at the level of the unlocking sectors 28. Thus, the inner wall of the locking sectors 26 can come into tight contact around the fixing ring 1 and more particularly surely in contact with the skirt
• the locking sectors 26 may extend over the entire height of the sleeve 2, or only on a lower part, as is the case in the figures. It is however preferable that the sectors 26 extend only on a lower part of the sleeve to perform an additional blocking function in disassembled position, as will be seen below.
• the locking sleeve 2 is intended to be engaged around the fixing ring 1 so as to block the lugs 16 of the ring 1 around the neck 4.
• This is a quite conventional function for a sleeve of classic lock.
• the particularity of the present invention lies in the fact that the locking sleeve 2 comes into contact with the ring 1 at the locking sectors 26, while the unlocking sectors 28 remain out of contact.
• the fixing ring 1 is intended to be mounted on the neck 4 so that the tabs 16 surround the neck 4, with the attachment profiles 17 engaged under the annular reinforcement 43 at the sector This is visible in FIG. 4.
• the tabs 16 are flexible, they are not sufficient on their own to maintain the fixing ring on the collar 4 in a stable and sealed manner.
• the locking sectors 26 will engage friction and clamping around the legs 16 as can be seen on the Figure 5.
• the fastening system is then in its final mounting position. It is of course necessary that the locking sectors are positioned at the tabs 16 (a tab locking sector).
• the locking sleeve is sufficiently rigid on its own, the locking function is completely filled by the locking sectors.
• the locking sleeve is not rigid enough, as may be the case when the unlocking sectors are constituted by indentations or windows, it is then necessary to use a covering band 5 which is engaged. to friction around the locking sleeve 2, as can be seen in Figure 5.
• the trim ring 5 fulfills only a cosmetic function by masking the fixing ring 1 and the locking sleeve 2.
• the dispenser can be actuated by the user by pressing axially on the pusher 33 so as to move axially back and forth.
• the engagement of the lugs 16 around the neck 4 locked in position by the sleeve 2 ensures a perfect attachment of the dispensing member 3 on the tank neck. Sealing is ensured by the crushing of the plate 14 (or the neck seal) on the upper edge 45 of the neck.
• the unlocking sectors 28 have an internal diameter greater than the external diameter of the skirt 15 and the tabs 16, there is a spacer clearance E that allows the tabs 16 to deform freely radially outwardly so that they can disengage from below the annular reinforcement 43.
• the clearance space is even greater since it is limited only by the inner wall of the trim band 5 engaged around the sleeve 2.
• the sectors of 26 are partially engaged inside the slots 18. This is possible because the height of the locking sectors 26 is smaller than the height of the slots 18.
• the locking sectors 26 are trapped in the slots 18, thus preventing the free rotation of the sleeve 2 around the ring 1 in disassembly position.
• the engagement of the sectors 26 in the slots 18 also prevents an axial pulling withdrawal of the sleeve 2.
• the blocking of the sectors 26 inside the slots 18 thus ensures that it is no longer possible to return to the mounting position from the dismantling position.
• This particular function locking sectors is particularly useful when it is desirable to not be able to reassemble the distribution assembly on the tank.
• the fixing ring 1 and the locking sleeve 2 can be made separately, for example by injection molding plastic material. It is then necessary when mounting the fastening system to angularly position the sleeve 2 relative to the ring 1 so that the locking sectors 26 are positioned correctly relative to the tabs 16. This requires an indexing of the ring and the sleeve and appropriate tools to position them angularly relative to each other. To avoid this indexing and positioning operation, the present invention provides for integrally molding the ring 1 and the sleeve 2. The two parts are then connected together by bridges of breakable material 12 which are intended to be broken during the engagement of the sleeve 2 around the ring 1.
• bridges of breakable material 12 are for example located at the lower inner edge 27 of the locking sectors 26 which is in contact with the upper outer edge 19 of the skirt 15, which also forms the peripheral edge of the plate 14. This is clearly visible in FIG. 3.
• the sleeve 2 is connected to the ring 1 by five bridges of breakable material located at each of the locking sectors. 26.
• the problem of mutual indexing of the two parts no longer arises, since the mutual orientation of the two parts results directly from their one-piece molding.
• the sleeve 2 is in contact with the ring only at the level of the locking sectors 26 at the exit of the mold, but also in the final mounting position in which the locking sectors 26 are in contact with the tabs.
• the clearance space E is already present between the unlocking sectors 28 and the skirt 15 at the outlet of the mold.
• the present invention it is possible to disassemble a fastening system of the ring / sleeve type by a simple rotation of the sleeve by compared to the ring. In addition, it is impossible to reassemble the system on a neck once in disassembly position.

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• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)

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• 2009
  • 2009-07-27 FR FR0955249A patent/FR2948344B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2010
  • 2010-07-23 EP EP10752086.8A patent/EP2459317B1/de active Active
  • 2010-07-23 US US13/321,725 patent/US8757409B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-07-23 CN CN2010800234574A patent/CN102448618A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-07-23 WO PCT/FR2010/051560 patent/WO2011015760A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2010-07-23 BR BRPI1014391A patent/BRPI1014391A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-07-23 ES ES10752086T patent/ES2423487T3/es active Active

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